1
Watching This Series Means Feeling Different Kind of Emotions
If you’re looking for a pure, feel-good romance, Shine might not be the one for you. But if you’re into something more mature — with historical and political drama set in the 1960s — then this series is definitely worth checking out.
There’s a lot going on in Shine. The romance between Dr. Trin and Tanwa is a slow burn, but don’t worry — the emotional payoff is worth the wait. In the first three episodes, they barely have scenes together because the story focuses on other characters, subplots, and political events. Surprisingly though, I enjoyed those parts just as much. The storytelling feels layered and intentional.
One of the things I really appreciated is how every character gets their moment to shine — yes, just like the title. Even the supporting cast has depth, and I found myself caring about their stories and what they were fighting for.
Dr. Trin is serious, reserved, and idealistic. Tanwa, on the other hand, is outgoing, cheerful, and always has a smile on his face — though behind that smile is a painful, traumatic childhood. He masks it well, but you can feel the heaviness underneath. Dr. Trin has his own emotional baggage too, which is probably why, despite their contrasting personalities, they find comfort in each other.
Then there’s Krailert and Naran — two people instantly drawn to each other, even though Krailert is already married. That’s where the infidelity begins. Aside from their forbidden romance, they’re also on opposite sides of a political fence — Krailert is a soldier, and Naran is a journalist. Their love is tangled in the same national conflict that affects everyone else in the story.
Let’s not forget Victor. His character plays a surprisingly important role, and whoever decided to include his arc made a smart choice.
By episode 7, I honestly felt disappointed with how Dr. Trin treated Tanwa. He blamed him for what happened during the protest, when in reality, it was Victor and the other students who organized it. They should’ve taken responsibility. I get that Dr. Trin saw Victor as a younger brother, but putting all the blame on Tanwa — your own lover — felt unfair. And he just left him without any explanations. It was also at this point that I realized something: I thought Trin was the one totally smitten, but turns out, he may have fallen first, but Tanwa definitely fell harder.
The emotional rollercoaster really hit me when it came to Tanwa’s backstory, especially his relationship with his father. They argue a lot early on, but in the end, when Tanwa was at his lowest, his father just couldn’t turn his back on him. That moment hit hard.
Tanwa’s character development was probably my favorite — from a carefree, almost reckless hippie to someone who eventually becomes a novelist. Meanwhile, Dr. Trin’s character felt a bit monotonous. He didn’t really evolve much compared to Tanwa.
If I had one gripe about the ending, it’s the way they broke up and only reconciled after two years — especially considering there were no phones or easy communication back then. It felt a bit unrealistic. The only thing that reconnected them was the book Tanwa wrote and dedicated to Trin, which is romantic in theory, but still a stretch.
That said, Shine might just be one of the best BL series of 2025 so far. The performances were solid, the production quality was excellent, and the visuals and cinematography were top-notch. If you’re looking for something deeper and different from the usual BL formula, Shine is definitely worth watching. 💙
There’s a lot going on in Shine. The romance between Dr. Trin and Tanwa is a slow burn, but don’t worry — the emotional payoff is worth the wait. In the first three episodes, they barely have scenes together because the story focuses on other characters, subplots, and political events. Surprisingly though, I enjoyed those parts just as much. The storytelling feels layered and intentional.
One of the things I really appreciated is how every character gets their moment to shine — yes, just like the title. Even the supporting cast has depth, and I found myself caring about their stories and what they were fighting for.
Dr. Trin is serious, reserved, and idealistic. Tanwa, on the other hand, is outgoing, cheerful, and always has a smile on his face — though behind that smile is a painful, traumatic childhood. He masks it well, but you can feel the heaviness underneath. Dr. Trin has his own emotional baggage too, which is probably why, despite their contrasting personalities, they find comfort in each other.
Then there’s Krailert and Naran — two people instantly drawn to each other, even though Krailert is already married. That’s where the infidelity begins. Aside from their forbidden romance, they’re also on opposite sides of a political fence — Krailert is a soldier, and Naran is a journalist. Their love is tangled in the same national conflict that affects everyone else in the story.
Let’s not forget Victor. His character plays a surprisingly important role, and whoever decided to include his arc made a smart choice.
By episode 7, I honestly felt disappointed with how Dr. Trin treated Tanwa. He blamed him for what happened during the protest, when in reality, it was Victor and the other students who organized it. They should’ve taken responsibility. I get that Dr. Trin saw Victor as a younger brother, but putting all the blame on Tanwa — your own lover — felt unfair. And he just left him without any explanations. It was also at this point that I realized something: I thought Trin was the one totally smitten, but turns out, he may have fallen first, but Tanwa definitely fell harder.
The emotional rollercoaster really hit me when it came to Tanwa’s backstory, especially his relationship with his father. They argue a lot early on, but in the end, when Tanwa was at his lowest, his father just couldn’t turn his back on him. That moment hit hard.
Tanwa’s character development was probably my favorite — from a carefree, almost reckless hippie to someone who eventually becomes a novelist. Meanwhile, Dr. Trin’s character felt a bit monotonous. He didn’t really evolve much compared to Tanwa.
If I had one gripe about the ending, it’s the way they broke up and only reconciled after two years — especially considering there were no phones or easy communication back then. It felt a bit unrealistic. The only thing that reconnected them was the book Tanwa wrote and dedicated to Trin, which is romantic in theory, but still a stretch.
That said, Shine might just be one of the best BL series of 2025 so far. The performances were solid, the production quality was excellent, and the visuals and cinematography were top-notch. If you’re looking for something deeper and different from the usual BL formula, Shine is definitely worth watching. 💙
Was this review helpful to you?
